Part 1: Overview of Scuba Diving in Malta

Diving in Malta offers some of the best opportunities in Europe. The island is a mix of the Mediterranean and, despite its small size, has a wealth of culture and history. Together with its neighboring islands of Gozo and Comino, Malta offers divers a diverse palette of possibilities.

There are a ton of shipwrecks around the islands, some of which they sunk on purpose, now attracting an abundance of marine life. Underwater caves, caverns, walls and reefs belong to Malta’s natural heritage. Diving in Malta, between wrecks and typical lime stone reef structures, you may see octopus, moray eels, barracuda and tuna, just to name a few. Summers are generally busier with marine life, when the water is warmer. In winter, Malta water temperatures can go down to around 14 degrees Celsius. Summers are a lot milder with water temperatures around 26 degrees.

Malta has great shore diving. The best way to go about exploring these easy to reach dive sites is by rental car. Gear and tanks can be rented at one of the many dive centers around the island. Because Malta is quite small, all diving can be done from the same base and there is no need to change accommodations. Some dive sites, specifically the ones around Comino Island, are only accessible by boat. The channel between Gozo and Malta, where Comino is situated, offers some excellent caverns, rock formations, and reefs to investigate. Almost every dive center on the island offers dive trips here, but closest are those in the region of St. Paul’s Bay.

The neighboring and quieter island of Gozo has some splendid dive sites of its own. This smaller island can easily be visited from Malta by ferry or offers plenty of options to stay the night. The Blue Hole and the Inland Sea are Gozo’s most unique dives, with spectacular rock formations, swim throughs and caverns, and easy access to some wreck dives from Gozo as well.

Part 2: Dive Sites, Marine Life & Environment in Malta

Diving in Malta is possible all year round. The water temperature ranges between 14 degrees and 26 degrees Celsius in winter and summer respectively. The summer months tend to have more activity in terms of marine life, since the water is warmer. The numerous wrecks and reefs attract schools of Barracuda and Tuna and are home to creatures like moray eels and Octopus. Dive sites are situated on Malta as well as Gozo, and both islands can serve as a base for the best dive sites around.

A good way to explore dive sites in Malta is by rental car. Since so many dive sites are easily reached by shore, the island offers an excellent opportunity for certified divers to dive independently. Cirkewwa, accessible by land, is Malta’s signature dive site. A collapsed cavern, which now has the shape of an arch, reaches from 6 to 18 meters deep and is visited by schools of Jacks and Barracudas. The nearby wreck Rozi is a 40-meter long tugboat that sits in an upright position and is still fully intact.

A drive to the south side of Malta is rewarded with some very good and quieter diving. The cavern series of Ghar Lapsi is a shallow dive and a great place to look for octopus and cuttlefish. In the same area, a wreck dive to Um El Faroud makes for a more advanced dive and a chance to see pelagic fish. These two dives together are a good combination for a day trip.

Dive sites between Malta and Gozo are visited by boat. This area is great to see Malta’s natural dive sites, like caves, walls, and reefs. Santa Maria is one of Malta’s best dives, with an interconnected cave system, interesting rock formations and swimthroughs. Latern point is another popular Malta dive site, with large boulders, a chimney swimthrough, and a wall.

Gozo has several shore dives worth diving as well. The Blue Hole is by far the most famous one. It’s a bit of a rocky walk over to this shore dive, but the magical descent into this 5 by 10 meter collapsed cavern is more than worth it. Divers can exit the blue hole by an arch that opens into the open ocean. The Inland Sea is another spectacular dive. A huge crevice, starting in the inland see, cuts through a cliff, dropping to 22 meters deep and exits in the open sea.

Part 3: Dive Shops, Airports & Logistics of Diving in Malta

Malta is well connected to all major European countries, including the UK, Germany and Italy. Budget airline carriers Ryan Air supply quick and cheap flights between Malta and other European cities. Getting around the island is possible by bus or taxi, but renting a car gives divers the option of accessing shore dive sites independently. The island is small, only 316 square kilometers, and driving conditions are good. Gozo, a smaller island that neighbors Malta, also offers good diving and is easy to get to by ferry. These modern ferry services go frequently and are able to carry cars.

Valletta is the capital city of Malta and an UNESCO World Heritage site because of its richness in architecture and culture. The towns of Sliema and St. Julien are very close to the old city of Valletta. There are some wreck dives close by and it’s a nice area to explore the island from, since Malta diving is best accessed by car. Dive Malta and Diveshack are two examples of professional dive centers in this part of the island. They offer courses, dives to all parts of Malta, and equipment rental.

Malta and Gozo boat diving is easily arranged from a dive center in St.Paul’s Bay or one of the other, smaller towns in that area. Maltaqua gets great reviews from divers. They have dive trips going out daily to most Malta and Gozo dive sites, which are pre-planned and the schedule can be found on their website. Paradise Diving Malta has a comfortable, beachfront, location right in front of Cirkewwa, a popular Malta dive site.

While many Malta dive centers organize trips to Gozo, the island is worth exploring by car as well. There are some good shore dives here, as well as boat dives. The little town of Malsaforn, Gozo boasts plenty of dive centers. Scuba Kings is a well organized dive shop that provides dive packages, gear rental, and the option to join guided dives on your own transportation. Divers in the mood for a quieter dive holiday can choose to stay on Gozo and even explore Malta from here.

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